Houston Rockets' Carl Landry shot

March 18, 2009 3:05:16 PM PDT

HOUSTON --

Houston Rockets forward Carl Landry was shot in the left leg early Tuesday while driving near his home. The injury was minor, and the team said Landry was treated at a hospital and released. The Rockets said they expected Landry to return to action in one to three weeks.

The shooting occurred about 2:30 a.m., a few hours after the Rockets returned from a game at New Orleans. Landry drove home after the team arrived about 12:30 a.m.

Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said Landry was driving his sport utility vehicle southbound on a city street, when a northbound car swerved into his path and collided with his vehicle. Landry and the driver of the other vehicle made U-turns and the vehicles collided again and Landry's SUV hit a utility pole.

Smith said Landry got out of his SUV to inspect the damage, and was shot by one of the two occupants of the car. The suspects then fled the scene.

Smith originally said the incident occurred about 4 a.m., but said later that was the time authorities were notified. Smith did not know if Landry was the person who called police.

Landry had a female passenger in his SUV, and she was not injured, police said.

The Rockets also said Landry dislocated a finger on his left hand in the incident.

The 6-foot-9 Landry has become a valuable player off the bench for the Rockets, averaging 9.3 points and five rebounds in his second NBA season. He had 12 points and six rebounds in Monday's 95-84 win that kept Houston in third place in the Western Conference standings.

"We are very thankful and relieved that Carl's injuries were relatively minor and that he is doing well," the Rockets said in a statement. "We are in the process of working with authorities to gather more information."

Landry was drafted by Seattle in the second round in 2007, then traded to Houston for a future second-round pick and cash. He averaged eight points and 4.9 rebounds in 2007-08.

In Game 3 of a first-round series against Utah, Landry blocked Deron Williams' layup try with 3.4 seconds left to preserve Houston's 94-92 victory. Landry also lost a tooth in that game after taking an elbow from Utah's Carlos Boozer.

The Rockets released a statement about the shooting Tuesday morning. It reads:

"We are very thankful and relieved that Carl's injuries were relatively minor and that he is doing well. Carl was the victim of an apparent random act of violence early this morning after the team arrived from New Orleans. We are in the process of working with authorities to gather more information. Carl was treated and released at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center for a surface wound in his left calf and a dislocated finger on his left hand. X-rays were negative. We expect him to make a full recovery and return in 1-3 weeks."

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the very latest on the shooting of Landry.